Index-heavy companies’ share prices down

By Hiran H.Senewiratne 

CSE market activities were negative yesterday with the index heavy LOLC share prices plummeting by 18 percent. The reason  being that investors were slightly taken aback at LOLC quarterly results which did not prove exceptionally good. As a result, 87 negative points were contributed to the All Share Price Index yesterday, stock market analysts said.

Apart from LOLC, several index heavy companies’ share prices went down, including Vallibal One, whose shares dropped by 10 percent and it contributed 20 negative points. Browns Investments reported a 9 percent drop and it contributed 20 negative points, Expolanka witnessed a five percent drop, contributing 17 negative points.

Amid those developments, both indices moved downwards. The All Share Price Index went down by 326.36 points and S and P SL20 declined by 126.05 points. Turnover stood at Rs. 4.28 billion with three crossings. Those crossings were reported in Sampath Bank, where 500,000 shares crossed for Rs. 82.5 million; its shares traded at Rs. 165, Sanasa Development Bank 850,000 shares crossed for Rs. 51 million, its shares traded at Rs. 60 and Hemas Holdings 350,000 shares crossed for Rs. 30.8 million, its shares trading at Rs. 58.

In the retail market top five companies that contributed to the turnover were; LOLC Rs. 730 million (1.97 million shares traded), Dipped Products Rs. 383 million (6.1 million shares traded), Expolanka Rs. 304 million (6.5 million shares traded, JKH Rs. 280 million (1.78 million shares traded) and Vallibel One Rs. 273 million (4.3 million shares traded). During the day 117.4 million share volumes changed hands in 34809 transactions.

Samapth Bank announced a dividend, which was Rs. 8.25 per share. Due to uncertain market conditions Sampath Bank shares  depreciated yesterday.     In contrasting actions, state fund EPF sold down in Hayleys PLC, while Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Life Fund has upped its stake in the quarter ended December 31, 2020. Hayleys also saw 605 new shareholders in the quarter.

As per latest shareholding at Hayleys, EPF has moved down to fourth from third after selling 2.3 million shares. Its shareholding with 2.34 million shares amounted to 3.12 percent down from 5.04 percent  previously. SLIC Life Fund has increased its stake to 0.79 million shares or 1.06 percent  from 0.39 million shares or 0.5 percent.High net worth individual investor and former Director Nimal Perera figures in the Top 20 shareholders list with 0.5 million shares or 0.67 percent shares while J.B. Cocoshell Ltd. is also a new entrant with 0.37 million shares or 0.5 percent.  Hayleys’ public shareholding is 37 percent  held by 6,974 shareholders, up from 6,369 shareholders as at September 30, 2020.       

Sri Lanka rupee quoted wider around 195.00/197.50 levels to the US dollar in the spot market on Tuesday, while bond yields edged up on selling pressure, dealers said. The rupee last closed in on the one-week forward market at 196.50/197.00 levels on Monday. In the secondary market, bond yields gained on selling pressure but the market remained dull, dealers said.